Branches Book

BRANCHES

(fried dough with chicken and shrimp), pad thai with chicken (rice noodles), nam sa ka tod (chicken salad), and sticky rice (self explanatory). You tell the waitress your order; you cannot wait to get your food. You talk with your friends while you await the food. You cannot wait to eat, and you really hope you get the first bite. You see other people’s orders coming out, it all looks so delicious. The steam from the dishes and the aroma leaves your mouth watering, all you want is your food. And then, it comes. The golden bags and nom sa ka tod arrive first. The portions are enormous and you see everyone’s mouth water as they begin to eat, and open their mouths to smile. You all dig in. It’s a race to see who will get the first bite. You all just want the food so badly. You somehow get the first serving, oh you are so lucky. The chicken in the nom sa ka tod is perfectly citrus with a little spice and the leaves from the salad add such a wonderful texture and taste to the entirety of the dish. There is also a minty-ness because of the mint leaves in the salad. This adds texture and flavor, and almost a relief from all of the spicy components of the dish. All you want to do is take more, but sadly there isn’t enough. So you take each bite in, enjoying the bursts of flavors and textures. The golden bags are perfectly hot and burn your tongue a little, but you don’t mind because it is so good. When you bite into them, a mountain of golden juices and flavors explode in your mouth. The flavors are full of chicken and shrimp but with a lightness that you don’t get often. It really is nice. It’s actually quite wonderful. So, you continue to pile food onto your plate before the next course comes. The tastes are powerful and wonderful, and as you take your final bite, the next course comes. First you receive the sizzling tom kah. It comes in a silver bowl with fire running under it. You pour everyone’s soup for them as it is sitting directly in front of you. You burn your hand a little on the bowl, but you don’t really mind because all you are thinking about is the food. The bowl is steaming with red fiery bubbles appearing on the surface. The mushrooms and spices are also floating on the top, just waiting to be eaten. The pot sizzles as you dip the spoon into the broth and a waterfall of steaming coconut scented soup and vegetables flow across into your soup bowl. Then the steaming pad thai arrives. The orange noodles wrap around the bean sprouts and egg. It’s almost as if they are all huddling together, like a clan that cannot be separated. And then as you twirl your fork around the noodles, you see all the different components clustered; they’re inseparable. Everything melts together in your mouth as you take your first bite, and once again, you smile.

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